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On Monday 28th January 2013 at about 13:00 Italy time I was listening to Radio Deejay Italia. It was a random choice to tune in, and when I did I heard a strange comical type character speak about his father’s nightclub business with the DJs. I don’t believe this character was real nor was this nightclub as it seemed to be a bit of a joke; however, that was not the point. The issue that struck me was that this character spoke openly and explicitly about his father’s nightclub and the ability to purchase women for sexual favors The Italian language that was used (and some English words) was filthy.

It never seizes to shock me or surprise me that the fact Italian media, again, are discussing this sort of thing which degrades women (and men to a certain degree) AND doing this at a time when a child could be at home or in the car potentially listening to this radio station. So I decided to discuss this issue with some of my Italian friends who were online on my social network profile.

I had an interesting response from the females, who all happened to be Italian immigrants living in Ireland (except for one) who all agreed with me that Italian media is sexist. I have yet to hear back from men on this matter! Perhaps the males don’t care enough for this problem and If so, why not? If you are male and you are reading this I would like to propose to you a question: The Italian media represent women in a humiliating way, how would you feel if the veline on strisia la notizia or the girls that were spoke about in a sexual way on the radio were your sisters, your mother or your daughters? OR better still, imagine the tables had turned and females degraded your body in public view, what would you make of this situation?

In my previous post about Lorella Zanardo and women’s bodies I briefly mentioned that a darker side of Italian politics had been revealed to me with reference to Berlusconi. I would like to emphasise that it is not only women he seeks to humiliate but his flighty behaviour has also allowed him to express his fascist ideas.

What is feminism? According to a Google search on the definition described above and in short it is about equality of women TO men.

Some people have very different views on what feminism really is, some people would consider me to be a feminist and others not. If the foundation of feminism is equality then women should not be equal to men but men and women should be equal to each other.The wording might not seem important to you but in reality and in practice it makes a difference. I do not believe that women are entitled to special privileges over men, nor do I believe the contrary. Therefore if being a feminist implies this and for those who do not have a decent insight who may think this, then I would like to state that I am not a feminist. I prefer to state I am an Equalist.

In fact, I support equal rights for all, between black and white people, between cultures, between religions, between ages, between social classes and between sexes.

Due to my recent discovery of this wonderful woman Lorella Zanardo and my fondness for the Italian people and culture I am putting a little emphasis on equality between the sexes. Without this woman or without this type of strong female character today in Italy, the sexism demonstrated in Italian media might have a future.